Truck conversion



2 Sheets-$hee t 1 gm L wm mm P. CARLSON TRUCK CONVERSION Filed June 11, 1936 PHILIP OARLSON INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 10, 1938.

May 10, 1933. p c LsoN 2,116,666 TRUCK CONVERSION Filed June 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY O-h m Pm on mm A 1 I. I I i r, 1E5

Patented May 10, 1968 TRUCK CONVERSION lhilip Carlson, Long Hill, Conn, assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to The Metropolitan Body Company, Bridgeport, Com, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 11, 1936, Serial N0. 84,765

ZClaims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in motor vehicles and has particular relation to automobile trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide a truck, rebuilt from the usual construction of truck, but which, without any increase in height or over-all length, is of greatly increased cubic capacity, has increased floor space available for loads and gives greater visibilityto a driver.

no The converted truck of the invention is particularly adapted for carrying bulky loads such as boxes, bread etc. and since the over-all length of the truck is not increased it obviously may be parked or stored in the usual limited space.

!5 Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. Howw ever, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosedbut includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

25 In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the truck the body being shown in outline; 6

Fig. 2 is a side view of the truck;

Fig. 3 is a'plan view of the brake and clutch m operating pedals and the means connecting them to the usual brake and clutch pedal operated parts;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged viewof a flexible coupling employed; p p Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional and plan views re spectively of portions of a hinge employed.

According to the invention a truck of the usual in construction is converted to increase its floor space and its cubic capacity without increasing its over-all length. Thus the volumetric capacity of the truck is greatly increased without increasing its length so that the converted truck is particularly useful for the carrying of bulky light weight loads such as bread, pies etc., and may be parked in arelatively small space.

Referring in detail to the drawings a truck is outlined at H) as comprising a chassis including 30 side frame members I i and I2 mounted on wheels l3 and supporting a body I4. Between the forward portions of the members I l and I2 there is mounted the engine I5 for propelling the truck through any or. the usual driving means (not 55 shown). Forwardly of the engine is any or the usual radiator l6 shown as disposed within the body l4 inwardly of a front removable panel ll later to be more fully referred to'.

Engine I5 projects above the floor line 18 of the truck body and within such body I is en- 5 closed by a housing I9 comprising a heat and sound insulator serving to keep the engine fumes,- noise and heat from the interior of the truck. Such housing is of laminated construction comprising an outer covering layer 20 which may be 10 of metal, leather or imitation leather, an inner perforated metal layer 2| and an intermediate layer 22. Such intermediate layer is of heat insulating material and also serves with the perforated inner layer 2| as a sound deadener.

Housing I9 is hinged at its forward end as at 23 whereby it may be swung from a position enclosing the engine as in Figs. 1 and 2 to a substantially vertical position in which the engine is exposed to the interior of the truck bodyso that access may be had to the engine. for adjustments or repairs. Any suitable means such as a hook 24 may be provided for securing the housing is -in theraised or open position, such hook for that purpose cooperating with a ring or eye 24a on the the back of the driver's seat is located in' the po- 5 sition indicated by the broken line 26 so that the floor, space available for the carrying of loads is only that space rearwardly of such line. Usually the clutch and brake connections and the clutch and brake pedals are at the rear or. inner'end 01' the motor l5 as is the steering connection.

Here 21 is a stud on which is turnable an arm 28 connected by a ball and socket joint 29 with any or the usual link 30 for turning the front wheels iii of the truck in the steering operation. In the present case the steering wheel 3| andev column 32 are moved forwardly and disposed laterally of the engine and on the lower end or the steering column is a .worm (not shown) meshing with a worm wheel segment (not shown) in the usual manner. With this arrangement on turning of the steering wheel motion is transmitted through the segment above mentioned to an'arm 33 connected by a ball and socket joint 34 with the forward end of a link. I

The rear end of link is connected by a ball and'socket joint 36 with an arm 31 rigid with the arm 28. From this it will be apparent that while the steering wheel and column have been moved forwardly link 35 and its associated parts serve to carry motion rearwardly so that link 30 will be operated in the usual way and there is no necessity for changing the hook up to the front or steering wheels of the truck.

38 indicates the usual clutch control shaft or part. The clutch and brake operating pedals 39 and 40 are also shifted forwardly and are disposed laterally of or at the side of the engine. Also such parts are disposed at the outer side of the frame member H. An extension 4| is connected with the clutch shaft 38 by a flexible coupling generally designated 42. The'construction of the coupling is not material here and the coupling shown is of standard construction being taken from the Boston Gear Catalogue. Such coupling comprises a head piece 43 keyed or otherwise secured at 44 to the extension 4| and a head piece 45 keyed at 46 to the clutch operating shaft 38.

Head'45 includes projections 41 extending into recesses provided in head 43 to receive such projections. Between all opposing faces of the respective heads 43 and 45 there is arranged a thick layer of rubber 48. This rubber provides means whereby the two heads and consequently the shafts to which they are attached, may have some relative twisting motion and the rubber also provides for limited relative longitudinal movement of the heads and the shafts which they are connecting. It is noted that the extension 4| projects through the side frame member I I but with the flexible coupling 42 arranged as shown, weaving of the frame is taken care of.

The clutch pedal 39 extends into the truck body for operation by the driver and includes a depending portion .49 pivotally mounted on a stud 50. An arm 5| fixed to the extension 4| is arranged substantially parallel with respect to the clutch pedal portion 49 and a connecting link 52 has its respective ends pivotally connected with the upper end of 'arm 5| and with the portion of the clutch pedal at the upper end of its vertical portion 49. Obviously on depression of the clutch pedal 39 link 52 will be drawn forwardly and its motion will be imparted to the arm 5| and from the latter through the extension 4| and coupling 42 to the clutch operating shaft 38 whose position has not been in any way changed Thus it will be seen that while the clutch pedal has been moved forwardly and is now disposed at the side of the engine, suitable connections are provided so that motion of the clutch pedal is transmitted back to the usual clutch operating shaft 38.

The brake pedal 40 is of substantially the same construction as the clutch pedal and lies at the side 'of the latter as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Pivot or stud mounts the brake pedal and the latter by means of a link 54 is connected with any or the usual brake operating means 55 which may be for the operation of mechanical brakes (not shown) or for the control of the fluid of a hydraulic braking system including the reservoir 56 and the tubes 5'! connecting such reservoir with the brakes of the respective wheels of the truck. From this it will be apparent that while the brake pedal has been moved forwardly it is, by means of the link 54, connected to the usual means for imparting brake pedal movement to the brake actuating means.

Since all the controls with the exception of the gear shift lever 58 have been moved forwardly it is possible to move the drivers seat forwardly and this has been done in the drawings. The seat 59 has been moved into the position shown from a position where its back was even with the broken line 25 above referred to. This places the seat at the side of the gear shift lever and the latter may be bent forwardly into position for the operator to conveniently reach it while the brake pedal, clutch pedal and steering wheel in their new positions are also convenient to the shifted seat.

Attention is called, to the fact that while the controls have been moved forwardly the various means which the controls. actuate or apply motion to have not been moved or had their places or positions changed. Thus the conversion may be accomplished in an economical or inexpensive manner. In actual practice the cubic capacity of a truck has been increased from one hundred and sixty cubic feet to two hundred and sixty-six cubic feet. The seat has been moved forward thirty-two inches thus giving a great deal more floor space for the carrying of loads. When the drivers seat is moved forwardly as shown it places the driver close to the windshield 60 and in a position where he may see at the sides and also immediately at the front of the truck. Reenforcements 6| may be applied to the forward portions of the frame members II and I2 and if desired the front springs of the truck may be reenforced with additional leaves.

The panel I! is of considerable width and height and is mounted in any convenient manner so as to permit of its removal whereby the radiator I6 and engine l5 may be lifted out through the front of the body l4. As here disclosed the panel is secured in place by bolts 52 although it will be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose. Accelerator pedal 63 has also been moved forwardly and in its new position is located convenient to the shifted drivers seat.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:-

1. In an automobile truck including a chassis mounting a body anda propelling engine extending into the body, an insulating housing enclosing the engine within the body, said housing hinged at its forward end for swinging movement to an open substantially vertical position exposing the engine to the interior of the body, means for securing such housing in said open position, and said hinge means including a removable hinge pin whereby the entire housing may be released and rendered removable from the body of the truck.

2. In an automobile including a chassis mounting a body and an engine within the body toward an end thereof, a heat and sound insulating housing enclosing the engine within the body, said housing hinged at its forward end for swinging movement to an open substantially vertical position exposing the engine to the interior of the body, a panel forwardly of the housing hinge and closing the end of the body toward which the engine is located, and means removably mounting the panel on the body independent of said housing whereby the panel may be removed to permit of movement of the engine through such end of the body.

PHILIP CARLSON. 

